Question

Why did Harshavardhana vow to kill Sasanka, the king of Bengal?
A. Sasanka treacherously killed his brother Rajya Vardhana
B. Sasanka treacherously defeated him in battle
C. Sasanka treacherously killed his father Prabhakar Vardhana
D. All of these

Answer 1

Hint: He belonged to the Pushyabhuti also called the Vardhana dynasty. He was a Hindu who later embraced Mahayana Buddhism. He was married to Durgavati. His deeds were praised by Chinese Buddhist traveller Xuanzang in his writings.

Complete Answer:
- Harshavardhana was brought into the world in 590 AD to King Prabhakaravardhana of Sthaneshwar. After Prabhakara Vardhana passed on, his senior child Rajyavardhana climbed to the seat of Thanesar.
- Harsha had a sister, Rajyashri who was hitched to ruler Grahavarman of Kannauj. Sasanka, the Gauda ruler, murdered Grahavarman and kept Rajyashri detained. This incited Rajyavardhana to battle against Sasanka. In any case, Sasanka slaughtered Rajyavardhana. This drove the 16-year-old Harshavardhana to climb the seat of Thanesar in 606 AD. He pledged to retaliate for his sibling's homicide and furthermore salvage his sister.
- For this, he fashioned a coalition with Bhaskar Varman, the Kamarupa ruler. Harsha and Bhaskar Varman walked against Sasanka. At last, Sasanka left for Bengal and Harsha turned into the ruler of Kannauj moreover.

A) This is not the only reason why he killed Sasanka. Thus, Option (A) is not the correct answer.
B) It's not the only reason why he took a vow to kill Sasanka. Option (B) is not the correct answer.
C) He did not vow to Sasanka only because of this reason. Option (C) is not the right answer.
D) all of the above are the reasons why harsh Vardhan vowed to kill Sasanka. Thus, Option (D) is not the right answer.

Hence option (D) all the above is the Correct Answer.

Note: 1) Shashanka was the primary free ruler of a brought together country in the Bengal area, called the Gauda realm and is a significant figure in Bengali history. He reigned in the seventh century AD, a few history specialists placing his standard between around 600 C.E and 636/7 C.E.
2) He is the contemporary of Harsha and of Bhaskar Varman of Kamarupa. His capital was at Karnasubarna, in present-day Murshidabad in West Bengal.